One-week observance in honour of Yaw Sarpong slated for February 19

A one-week observance ceremony to mark the life and legacy of gospel legend Yaw Sarpong has been scheduled for February 19, 2026, at Asuofua Park in Kumasi.

The event follows his death on January 20, 2026, at age 66 after a prolonged illness.

His passing was confirmed by his manager, Nana Poku Ashis, and has since drawn tributes from across Ghana’s gospel fraternity and beyond.

Yaw Sarpong’s death has left the Asomafo family and the wider gospel community in mourning.

The loss came only weeks after the passing of Maame Tiwaa, a long-serving member of the group, deepening the grief within the Asomafo and gospel industry circles.

The February 19 observance is expected to bring together family members, fellow musicians, clergy, and fans to celebrate a career that shaped Akan gospel music for more than four decades.

Sarpong founded the Asomafo Band in 1986 while in Liberia and later relocated to Ghana, where the group grew into a respected national gospel institution.

Over the course of his ministry, he released more than 25 albums and over 100 songs, including enduring worship favourites such as Wo Haw Ne Sɛn, Oko Yi, Wo Haw Ne Hwan, Tie Obiaa, Aduro Yesu, and Awurade Kasa.

The songs remain widely performed in churches and featured on gospel radio playlists across the country.

Together with Asomafo, Sarpong became known for blending traditional Ghanaian rhythms with disciplined vocal delivery, structured choral harmonies, and strong theological themes.

His work influenced church choirs nationwide and helped define the direction of contemporary Akan gospel music.

In 2025, he received the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Telecel Ghana Music Awards in recognition of his lasting contribution to the gospel genre.

The one-week observance will feature worship sessions, musical tributes, and reflections on his influence as a songwriter, mentor, and leader.

The ceremony will serve as both a celebration of his ministry and a moment of collective remembrance for a figure whose music shaped generations of Ghanaian worshippers.